Life cycle of Metamasius dimidiatipennis Champeon (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The pineapple weevil Metamasius dimidiatipennis Champeon (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is considered one of the most important insect pest of pineapple in the Táchira state. This study, was determined the life cycle of this insect in the Entomology laboratory at the National Institute of Agricultural Research in Táchira (INIA-TÁCHIRA) at a temperature of 21.87 °C, and a relative humidity 79.27%. The insects used in this study were grown in the Lab and were fed with pineapple leaves. The duration of the life cycle from the egg stage to the adult emergence was 82.34 ± 0.47 days. The duration of the different stages was, egg: 6 ± 0.25 days, larva: 50.59 ± 0.36 days and pupa: 10.61 ± 0.36 days. The process of melanization for the adult lasted 14.67 ± 0.26 days. The average number of eggs per female was 7, with 92% of fertility. Eight well-defined larval instars were identified according to Dyar's Law, for changing each stadium required averaged 6 days. Adults of both sexes presented two colors, some with red pronotum and others with the pronotum entirely black. Adult males have a length of 1.88 ± 0.11 cm and females 1.95 ± 0.12 cm. The adult longevity was 319.4 ± 37.20 days.